Controller.



C. L. PERRY. CONJROLLER. APPLICATION FILED SEPLZI. 191s.

Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

adobe /6 Inventor-'2 His oqcyor'neg.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

CHARLES L. PERRY, OF SGHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pat t 20 191 7,

Application filed September 21, 1916. Serial N 0. 121,487.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, CHARLns L. PERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented cerwhereby the master switch which is ordinarily provided for controlling these circuits may be made considerably smaller, lighter I and less expensive than those heretofore used.

My invention relates more specifically to devices having a plurality of contacts which successively control a circuit or circuits, such for instance, as a controller which is commonly used for controlling an electric motor. Such controllers, ordinarily called drum controllers, employ a rotatable cylinder having a plurality of contact segments which engage corresponding stationary contact fingers to which the circuits to be controlled are connected. In the operation of controllers of this character, especiallywhere the circuit to be broken is of a highly inductive character, dangerous arcing may occur at the circuit interrupting contacts. This is true, for instance, in the case of a master switch or controller whichcontrols separate electromagnetically actuated switches. This arcing has necessitated the use of a comparatively large controller in which the spacing between the successive steps of the controller and the spacing between the various circuit interrupting contacts are sufficiently large to take care of the danger of the are at one of the circuit interrupting contacts being deflected over to the adjacent contacts and thus causing a short circuit sure that the controlled circuits will be positively deenergized. Of course, controllers have been constructed with large spacing between the successive operative positions and between the circuit making contacts, andhave been provided with blow-out coils, arc defleeting plates of insulating material between the contact segments, and the like, in an attempt to obviate the difiiculties and dangers above pointed out, but these have all involved complications which have been expenslve to construct and maintain and have also added considerably to the weight and sizeof the controller.

One of the objects of my invention is to makepossible the use of a small, light and inexpensive controller in which the spacing between the successive operative positions of the controller and the spacing between he various contacts are materially less than has heretofore been considered necessary. I do this by quickly deenergizing the controlled circuits and practically eliminating the dangerous arcing at the circuit interrupting contacts. I accomplish this object by connecting a circuit having a capacity successively in series with the inductive circuits to check the flow of current, at the same time connecting the circuit containing capacity across the circuit interrupting gaps to suppress the arcing. More specifically my invention comprises a controller for electric circuits having a'plurality of segments which the insulation between the sections of the segments, and in series with the coils of the electromagnetically actuated motor controlling switches to quickly check the flow of current in these coils and suppress any arcs which may tend to be formed as the controller is moved from step to step to denergize these coil circuits.

One embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing. Referring to the drawing, the motor 1 is connected to the supply circuit 2 by means of a trolley 3 and is connected to ground bymeans of the electrol magnetically actuated switch member 4. The within the controlleritself, and also to make electromagnetically actuated switch member 5 is adapted to short clrcuit the armature controlling resistance 6 and electromagnetituating coils of these switches are controlled by means of a master controller 9 having two sets of relatively movable cooperating contacts; The size of these contacts, their spacing from one another and the spacing between successive operative positions of the controller are all comparatively quite small. A condenser 10 having one side connected to the trolley pole 3 is adapted to check the flow of current in the switch coils and suppress any arcs which may tend to be formed at the master controller segments as the master controller is moved to denergize the elcctromagnets. The movable contacts of the master controller 9 comprise a plurality or" contact segments, three of which are divided into two sections insulated from each other, the two sections being successively engaged by the stationary contacts or linger. The sectional segments 11, 12, and 13, are electrically connected together and are adapted to successively complete the circuits for the coils of the electromagnetically actuated switches 4:, 5 and 7, at their respective contacts. The sectional segments 14:, 15 and 16 are electrically connected together and are associated with but insulated from the sectional segments 11, 12 and 13, respectively. The condenser 10 is adapted to be connected successively across the insulation between these sectional segments and in series with the coil circuits as the controller is moved to deenergize the magnets of the electromagnetically actuated switches 4, 5 and 7.

The operation of my device is as follows In order to complete the circuit of the motor 1 through the resistances 6 and 8 to the ground, the master controller 9 is moved through the positions a and h to the position 0, when the coil 17 is energized causing the switch member 4: to close and complete the motor circuit. The circuit for the coil 17 is from the supply circuit 2, conductor 18, segment 19, and sectional segment 13, through the coil to ground. Moving the controller to the position (Z energizes the coil 20 and by moving the controller to the position 6 the coil, 21 is energized, causing the switch members 5 and 7, respectively, to close and short circuit the resistances 6 and 8 in the motor circuit.

To lower the speed of the motor, the controller is first moved. backward to the position (Z when the sectional segment 11 is disconnected from the contact 22 and sectional segment 14 engages the contact 22. The

condenser 10 is now connected in series with the coil 21 through the sectional segment 14 so as to bridge the insulatioinbetween the sectional segments 11 and 1st. The circuit for the coil 21 is now from the supply circuit 2, condenser 10, segment 23, sectional segment 14, contact 22 and coil 21 to ground. The condenser by checking the flow of current through the coil 21, promptly deenergizes the coil and causes the switch member 7 to open very quickly and remove the short circuit from the resistance 8 in the motor circuit. At the same time, due to the fact that the condenser is connected across the interrupting gap, between sectional segment 11 and contact 22, any are is promptly suppressed which may tend to be established between sectional segment 11 and sectional segment 14 which is electrically connected with contact Moving the controller to the position 0 disconnects the coil 21 from the condenser and connects the condenser in series with the 'coil 20 through the contact 2% and across the insulation between the sectional segments 12 and 15, checking the flow of current in the coil 20, suppressing any are which may tend to be formed between the sectional segments 12 and 15, or between the sectional segment 12 and the contact 24, and causing the switch member 5 to open and remove the short circuit from the resistance 6. Moving the controller to the oil? position through the positions Z) and a disconnects the coil 20 from the condenser and checks the flow of current in coil 17 thereby causing the switch member 4: to open. the motor circuit, suppressing the are at sectional segments 13 and 16 or sectional segment 13 and contact 25 and finally disconnecting the condenser from the coil 17. It will be seen that with my arrangement a single condenser is connected across the interrupting gap and in the circuit of each actuating coil in succession so that the spark which would otherwise persist is eliminated by dissipation of the magnetic energy of these coils and the switches which they operate caused to open quickly.

By reason of the action of this single condenser in promptly suppressing the arcs at the circuit interrupting contacts and eliminating the danger of an arc flashing over from any one of the contact segments to the adjacent segments, it has been possible to use a master switch in which the spacing between thesuccessive operative positions a, b, 0, (Z, c, and the spacing between the segments themselves, as well as the sizes of many parts of the controller, are comparatively quite small in proportion to the cir cuits controlled. This master switch or controller, may therefore be made considerably smaller, lighter, and less expensive to manufacture and maintain and its life in service considerably lengthened.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the prin eiple of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to representthe best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A controller for a plurality of electric circuits comprising a plurality of circuit interrupting contacts for successively interrupting said circuits, and a single circuit having capacity arranged to be connected successively across each of the interrupting gaps as formed by the successive operation of said contacts.

2. A controller for a plurality of electric circuits comprising a plurality of circuit interrupting contacts for successively interrupting said circuits, and a condenser arranged to be connected successively across each of the interrupting gaps as formed by the successive operation of said contacts.

3. The combination with a controller having a plurality of contact segments adapted to make and break a plurality of circuits successively, of means comprising a single circuit having capacity for successively suppressing the arcs at the controller segments as they break their respective circuits.

4:. A controller for a plurality of electric circuits comprising a plurality of circuit interrupting contacts for successively interrupting said circuits, a condenser and means for successively connecting the condenser in each of said circuits to check the flow of current as said contacts are opened.

5. A controller for a plurality of electric circuits comprising a lurality of circuit interrupting contacts tor successively interrupting said circuits, a condenser and means for successively connecting the condenser in each of said electric circuits and across the corresponding interrupting gaps as formed by the successive operation of said contacts.

6. A controller for electric circuits comprising two sets of relatively movable cooperating contacts, one 01"? which has two successively engaged sections insulated from each other, and a condenser arranged to be successively connected across the insulation between the sectional contacts.

7. A controller for electric circuits comprising two sets of relatively movable cooperating contacts, one of which has a plurality of successively engaged sections insulated from each other, a condenser, and means for successively connecting the condenser across the insulation between the sec- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for tional contacts as the controller is moved to deenergize the circuits.

8. Controlling means for electric circuits comprising a plurality of electromagnetically operated switches, a controller having a plurality of successively engaged sectional contacts insulated from each other for controlling the electromagnets of said switches, a condenser, and means for connecting the condenser across the insulation between the sectional contacts as each successive electromagnet is deenergized.

9. A controller for electric circuits comprising two sets of relatively movable cooperating contacts, one of which has a plurality of successively engaged sections insulated from each other, a condenser, and means for successively connecting the condenser across the insulation between the sectional contacts and in series with the circuits as the controller is moved to de'e'nergize the circuits.

10. Controlling means for an electric motor comprising a plurality of electromagnetically actuated switches, a controller having a plurality of successively engaged sectional contacts insulated from each other for controlling the switch magnets, a condenser, and means for successively connecting the condenser to check the flow of current in the switch magnets and across the insulation between the sectional contacts to suppress the arcing as the controller is moved to de'elnergize the switch magnets.

11. Controlling means for a plurality of electric circuits comprising a controller having a plurality of closely spaced, successively functioning, relatively movable, cooperating contacts, a condenser for increasing the safe capacity of the controller,,and means for successively including the condenser in the controlled circuits and across the corresponding interrupting gaps as said circuits are successively broken at the contacts.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of September, 1916.

CHARLES L. PERRY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G." 

